Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s decision to reduce the prison sentence of Los Angeles Democrat and former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez’s son for the killing of a college student brought sharp rebukes Monday from San Diego prosecutors and the victim’s family.

On his last full day in office, Schwarzenegger commuted the sentence of 22-year-old Esteban Nunez of Sacramento from 16 to seven years in state prison.

Nunez pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon for a drunken knife fight near the San Diego State University campus in 2008 in which Mesa College student Luis Santos — also known as Luis Dos Santos — was killed.

“We were shocked to hear of the governor’s last-minute commutation, which greatly diminishes justice for victim Luis Santos and re-victimizes his family and friends,” San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said. “The District Attorney’s Office was not consulted and the decision comes as the appeals process was continuing.”

The victim’s father, Fred Santos, told reporters that he and his wife, Kathy, were “totally outraged” by the commutation, which he said smelled of “dirty politicking.”

Fabian Nunez, a Democrat, served as Assembly speaker from 2004 to 2008. He is also a business partner of the governor’s top political adviser at the consulting firm Mercury Public Affairs, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In September, Nunez’s attorneys asked Judge Robert F. O’Neill to reduce his sentence, based on comments attributed to the judge before Nunez pleaded guilty.

Attorneys Brad Patton and Charles Sevilla argued that O’Neill had indicated Nunez would get a lighter sentence than Ryan Jett — a Sacramento resident who pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault for instigating the incident in which Santos was killed, two of his friends suffered stab wounds and a third friend suffered an eye injury.

But the judge failed to come through, the attorneys said. O’Neill, however, denied the defense request, saying he had lost jurisdiction over the case because an appeal had already been filed.

Jett — who had previous felony convictions and was on probation at the time of the fatal stabbing — was sentenced to 16 years in prison for killing Santos. Two others — Leshanor Thomas, 21, and 20-year-old Rafael Garcia — pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

On Oct. 4, 2008, Nunez and Jett fought with Santos and several others near San Diego State University. During the fight, Jett stabbed Santos to death.

“Santos’ death is tragic, and I do not discount the gravity of the offense,” Schwarzenegger said in his commutation message.

“But given Nunez’s limited role in Santos’s death, and considering that, unlike Jett, Nunez had no criminal record prior to this offense, I believe Nunez’s sentence is excessive. Accordingly, I commute Nunez’s sentence to the lower term for the crimes for which he was convicted: seven years in state prison.”

San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith also lashed out at Schwarzenegger’s decision.

“Esteban Nunez — the son of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez — is a criminal who was sentenced by an experienced and well-respected Superior Court judge,” Goldsmith said. “Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reduced the sentence by over half to help his political crony’s son. In doing so, he undermined the judicial system and has jeopardized public safety.

“This homicide occurred in the city of San Diego,” Goldsmith said. “I speak for the overwhelming majority of San Diegans in stating that we are appalled and angry over Mr. Schwarzenegger’s conduct. It reflects poorly on him, personally, and on his legacy as governor.”

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